I thought I'd make a post about what brought my grandfather, D.A. McNeill, to Holly Grove (this is what I've been told by various family members - hopefully they will correct me if this is wrong). My grandfather was born and raised in Hinds County, Mississippi. By 1920, his family had moved to Memphis. After high school, he spent a year or two at a junior college and then went to school to become a barber. Upon finishing school to become a barber 1924, he heard about a job opening for a barber in Holly Grove and decided to apply for it. To do that, he had to come to Holly Grove. So, on the day he was to apply, he got all dressed up and took a train from Memphis to Holly Grove (don't know if this was a direct route in 1924, but....). He wanted to look nice and professional for the interview and so he had been meticulous while dressing. When he arrived in Holly Grove, it was pouring down rain and there was mud and water everywhere. As soon as he stepped off the train and began to make his way toward the barber shop, something (a car or a horse and wagon), drove right past him and splashed him with muddy water...so when he got to the barber shop, he was filthy and more than a little upset. Apparently, the barber shop guy didn't hold it against him because my grandfather got the job. His first official job in Holly Grove was being a barber. He eventually added a bathtub to the back part of the barber shop for people who wanted to get cleaned up after a cut and shave. This was a smart move....he increased his profits. As the years passed, he also owned a bowling alley and a cleaners...and he worked as a postal employee and served on the school board. So, that is how the McNeill branch of my family ended up in Holly Grove....I would love to hear how other peoples' families came to Holly Grove!
I don't know if you remember me, but we went to school together. Nikki Padgett..I was a year or 2 younger than you I think. I don't have any info for you, but I wanted to say hello.
-- Edited by Danyelle McNeill Fletcher at 19:24, 2006-02-25
I need help establishing my history I know my mothers side but not my fathers side my fathers name is Otho Neil Andrews but his father was not a Andrews but a man by the name Thomas weinwright I don't know much but I want to know who I am. My grandmothers' name was lucy bell henderson when she died please help my find out who I am. antuan l andrews aka scoop
-- Edited by Danyelle McNeill Fletcher at 19:24, 2006-02-25
The Hess family moved to Holly Grove in November of 1933. It consisted of my mother, Ethel Hess, her mother Dora McCracken, my sisters Margaret, Virginia and Marilynn, my nephew Bobby West and myself, Frank Hess.
Margaret Hess West, worked in the Post Office for a number of years. Virginia Hess Taylor graduated from HGHS in 1931 or 32. Marilynn Hess Jackson was class of 1936 I believe, I graduated 1942 and Bobby West graduated in 1946 or 47. We lived, at that time, at the end of Wilson street. We lived next to Beverly and Rose Hess Lambert until they moved to Little Rock, and then Walker Lambert and his family moved into their house.
I will be glad to answer any questions some of you might have.
I am so proud of Danielle for making Holly Grove stay in our hearts and memories.
Frank Hess
-- Edited by Danyelle McNeill Fletcher at 19:24, 2006-02-25
